Filter Content
By Mr Simon Fleming - Principal
Well it's good to be back. Six school weeks have now passed since we had everyone on site. The teachers may have been here each day, but school certainly was different. Teachers are feeling a bit like they are back in January; a little nervous and excited about the return of face to face learning. There is no doubt that we have learnt a great deal over the last 5 weeks about our students and our own capabilities as teachers.
It is important now to consolidate our learning and strive for excellence over the next 5 weeks. Teachers have been planning the curriculum delivery to incorporate rich learning tasks and the continual use of formative assessment to appraise student learning.
There have been multiple studies, over the years, into the effectiveness of student ‘learning strategies’, and most centre around preparation for exams. While there is significant awareness that examinations are not always the most meaningful nor inclusive means of measuring learning success, what we can extract from these studies is invaluable.
Most recently, a study exposed the disparity between what a student ‘thinks they know’ and what they ‘actually know’. As Terada states, “It’s far too easy for students to overestimate their understanding of a topic simply because they’re familiar with it.”
It’s important that we encourage our students to actively manage their own learning rather than passively absorbing the content of the classes. Opportunities to consider how they learn should be incorporated in learning sequences.
That awareness of their own personal learning processes is key and underpins the idea of moving our students’ sense of mastery of a concept/skill from familiarity to deep understanding. This is a goal that we want to improve at our school to support student outcomes.
Have a lovely week.
Simon
By Mrs Anna Hardy, Deputy Principal
Welcome back to all our students. The return of our community has certainly filled our classrooms and College grounds with life again and we are thankful that we can once again teach in real time and face to face.
Students should now be in Winter Uniform. A reminder about the College’s uniform expectations and standards including hair and jewellery.
Boy’s hair is to be of suitable length and style and should not bring undue negative attention to themselves or the College. Hair should be of one natural colour, cut no shorter than a number 2 blade and undercuts, tails, tracks, shaven strips and extreme haircuts which draw attention to the student are not acceptable, e.g. ‘afro’, Mohawk style, Beckham, ‘mullet’, dread locks, man buns etc. Hair length must not be over the collar or over eyebrow and hair must always be kept neat and clean.
The only items of jewellery permitted for girls are unobtrusive, plain gold or silver studs or sleepers, maximum of one per ear in the ear lobe. The only visible piercings should be in the ear. All other piercings are to be removed. This includes clear studs. A wristwatch and a simple neck chain with a religious crucifix only. Boys are to have no visible jewellery except a wristwatch and a simple neck chain with a religious crucifix only.
We appreciate parents’ support in the continual upholding of the College policies.
Student Protection:
At the College we firmly believe that Student Protection is everybody’s business. The safety and wellbeing of our students is of paramount importance. The Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools has Student Protection Processes and Guidelines in place that the College abides by.
These procedures reflect legislative and regulatory reporting requirements, and the policies of Toowoomba Catholic Schools. All staff are trained in these processes and the College has four nominated staff members, known as Student Protection Contacts, from whom students and staff can access support and advice.
The Student Protection Contacts at Assumption College are Simon Fleming (Principal), Julie Collins (Pastoral Leader), Suzy Krause (teacher) and Jenny Gillespie (Counsellor). However, students can report any student protection concerns to any staff member.
By Mrs Carol Sharp, APRE
Liturgy News
Pastoral Care class liturgies have recommenced this week and by the end of the term, all PC classes will have had their turn to hold the Semester 1 PC liturgy. The importance of this liturgy is particularly evident at the moment with reduced opportunities for us to gather in large groups and pray together.
Social Justice News
This week is Reconciliation Week and on Tuesday we held a prayer service in Pastoral Care classes for National Sorry Day to highlight the importance of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians moving forward together. Caritas, the Catholic Aid Agency, focuses on the issue of subsidiarity when considering reconciliation. Subsidiarity is one of the key Catholic Social Teachings and calls for decisions to be made by the people who are most affected by them. This implies that for reconciliation to be effective, all Australians need to nurture the voice of our first peoples in our institutions; in our schools, our parliament and in our communities.
To read more about subsidiarity and Reconciliation Week follow this link.
Our Saint Vincent de Paul group have been meeting over the past two weeks to work on creating greater connections with the residents of The Oaks Nursing Home. We have begun a pen-pal program, writing to the residents to share stories of life in lockdown and share our hopes for the future. In conjunction with the Liturgy Group, the students will also be developing an online liturgy to send to The Oaks. They have chosen the theme of Hope.
Prayer – Reflection
By Ms Eliza Harris - Assistant Principal - Curriculum
Welcome Back!
We are so excited to welcome all student cohorts back from our unexpected break. The breezeway, classrooms, oval, basketball and handball courts were buzzing from 8:15am Monday morning with students and staff excited to share stories and catch up. As we charge head on into Week 6 of Term 2, 2020 there are a few important curriculum matters to note:
Grade 12 Interim Report Cards
Interim report cards for our Grade 12 cohort will go home this week, containing results for all assessment pieces so far in Certificate and Applied Courses as well as QCAA Confirmed results for IA1 in all General subjects. These reports provide a comprehensive overview of individual academic performance at this stage of the year. These reports are accompanied by an invitation to attend Parent-Teacher Interviews during Week 7. An incredibly valuable component in providing individualised support for all students comes from an open dialogue between teachers, parents, and students. With the removal of an internal assessment piece in all subjects for Grade 12s this year, the next opportunity for specific, individual feedback based on results of formal assessment pieces is not until late October. I urge all parents and students to strongly consider attending parent-teacher interviews in order to seek critical improvement feedback.
Thursday Afternoon Tutoring – 3:15pm-4:15pm Returning 28th May
Thursday afternoon Tutoring/Homework Help commences this week! All students are welcome to join some of our wonderful staff as they volunteer support through the revision of classwork, completion of homework and assessment tasks and assistance with study habits and skills.
This is a wonderful opportunity for students to receive more individualised support; senior students are reminded that there is a specific Senior Study Room.
No student left behind: Weeks 6-10 Term 2 Curriculum for Students in Grade 7-10
The unprecedented nature of COVID-19 meant swift decisions and responses from a variety of educative governing bodies. As our society adapted rapidly to new norms and procedures, we asked our teachers to do the extraordinary and completely change our entire method of delivery to online almost overnight.
While we are incredibly impressed with the collective efforts of our wonderful College community, it is important to recognise and acknowledge the anxiety and stress many of our students may feel on their return to school. The QCAA in alignment with State and Federal governments have mandated that no student Prep-Grade 10 is to be conferred formal achievement results on specific work completed during remote learning.
This is absolutely not to suggest that the work completed through this time is to be disregarded, but rather acknowledges the vastly different home contexts our students herald from. Our incredible teachers have (again) worked overtime to ensure that core skills and cognitions from junior units of work are able to be clarified, revised, demonstrated and mastered during the face-to-face delivery in weeks 6-10.
This means that Semester One student report cards will be based on evidence of student learning captured before and after COVID-19 disruptions to teaching and learning sequences.
By Mr Scott Clegg - Business Manager
School Fees
Term 2 Fees are due 12/06/2020 unless you have a Direct Debit or other existing payment arrangement in place with the College.
Term 2 Tuition Fees have been charged and the statements have been emailed or posted out to families. If you have trouble viewing the email or you don’t receive the statement in the post, please contact the College via email at finance@acwarwick.catholic.edu.au and we can resend them.
By Mrs Julie Collins - Program Leader Sport
A big welcome back to all our students for the second half of Term 2!
Unfortunately, there will be no sport for the rest of this term and until further notice – pending directives from DD School Sport.
If your trial was cancelled in Term 1, you are entitled to claim back your trial fee. Please note the two points below:
- You cannot keep the fee as a credit for a future trial.
- You cannot claim a refund unless you actually paid the fee.
Please see the ‘How to Guide’ below.
By Mrs Mary-Anne Driver
It was lovely to welcome back all our students this week – plenty of smiles all round!
We have asked students what they will miss/not miss about isolation on our discussion board. So many students have missed the contact with their peers, yet, equally students enjoyed and will miss being able to be more flexible with their learning. Hopefully every student learnt something about their learning style and the way they work best.
We have added to our collection while students have been away so remember to come to the library and check out our new books.
Chess Competition
On Friday the 22nd of May Assumption College hosted the 1st Online Chess tournament. There were the expected teething problems that caused some concerns with the number of games that were played. However, the feedback has been positive and everyone seemed to have enjoyed the experience.
Nine schools competed in the tournament and there were 50 registered players. Assumption College did very well and won the tournament, Border Rivers Christian College placed 2nd and Allora came 3rd. Another 3 Assumption players placed in the top 10 and the remaining Assumptions players performed very well and should be proud of their performance.
Deputy Principal
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Anna Hardy to the position of Deputy Principal, Assumption College, Warwick.
Anna’s appointment follows the Toowoomba Catholic Schools recruitment and selection procedure which involves advertising, short-listing, interviewing and referee checks. I would like to thank Simon Fleming (Principal, Assumption College, and panel chair), Paul Herbert (Acting Senior Education Leader), Father Franco Filipetto (St Mary’s Parish Priest, Warwick) and Emma Timmins (Principal, St Mary’s School, Warwick ) for their involvement and wisdom in arriving at this successful outcome.
Anna has been the acting Deputy at Assumption College for the last twelve months. During this time, she has demonstrated admirable leadership capabilities especially in the area of pastoral care. Prior to this position, Anna held the position of Assistant Principal: Curriculum. Anna brings a wealth of local knowledge and a lovely blend of personal qualities and professional capabilities to the role. Anna’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts, Certificate IV in Christian Leadership and she is currently studying for a Master of Educational Leadership degree. Anna is committed to the agreed growth and improvement journey which the College has set for itself.
Anna is well known throughout the Diocese as a thoughtful educator who has the ability to develop strong relationships. I have every confidence that Anna will be a valuable leadership team member as the College continues to build on the impressive accomplishments which it has achieved in academic success within a distinctly Catholic environment.
Please join us in congratulating Anna on her appointment.
Dr Pat Coughlan
Executive Director
Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office
Enrolments & Tours
We are currently taking enrolment applications for prospective students for 2021 & 2022. Enrolments are also open at any time for students wishing to move to the College during the current year.
We encourage all parents/carers who are interested in their son/daughter attending Assumption College to complete an Enrolment Application Form and return it to the College office as soon as possible. Enrolment packages are available from the office or can be posted out. Alternatively, the Enrolment Application Form can be downloaded from the website or by Clicking Here.
Prospective families are welcome to contact the College at any time to arrange a private tour of the school at their convenience. Our College tours give prospective families the opportunity to see what Assumption has to offer as well as answer any questions they may have in regards to the College. Tours can be booked via the office or by Clicking Here.
Please contact us on 4660 4000 if you have any questions or if you require any further information.
